Sphygmomanometer



Aug. 30, 1927.

v G. F. BEACHLER SPHYGMOMANOMETER Filed oct'. 27, 1924 w, @@MMMTM y 3 Sheets-Sheet l dummen Aug. l30. 1927.

G. F. BEACHLER SPHYGMOMANOMETER -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

auvent@ VPE-4M' Aug. 30 1927.

G. F. BEACHLER SPHYGMOMANOMETER Filed oct. 27. 1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 Emmn WMM

Patented Aug. 30, 19,27. l

UNITED STATES 11,640,920 PATENT oFF1cE.-

GEORGE F. BEACHLER, lOll CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SPHYGMOMANOMETER-j Application filed October 27, 1924. p Serial No. 745,9-99.

This invention relates to sphygmomanometers, and is particularly concerned with portable instruments of the mercury column type.

l1`he general object of the present invention is the provision of a compact instrument Icapable of a full range of measurements and enclosed in a pocket case in such manner that the mercury in the instrument will be prevented from being displaced when the case is closed.

Another object of my invention includes a casing construction adapted to the housing of a sphygmomanometer which whenopen supports the mercury column of the instrument vertically and also forms a base for the instrument, the base portion of the casing comprising a support for a pump which is adapted to inflate a tourniquet bag attached to the mercury column.

. A :mrther object of this invention includes the provision of a novel mercury tube construction which becomes automatically and positively sealed by the act of closing the casing.

A still further object of my invention 1s the provision of a blood pressure measuring instrument of unusual measuring range and which is arranged in a pocket case in such manner that the instrument may be heldand manipulated by one hand of the user.

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter be set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form thereof. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation of my instrument supported by la` casing which is of sufficient size to also receive a tourniquet bag, when the latter is deflated `and folded; Fig. 2 is a plan view lof the instrument and casing, the tourniquet'bag and connections therefor being omitted; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section section taken at the upper endof the tube as shown in Figzpl; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation taken substantially Ialong the line 4-4' of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view on an enlarged scale taken through the casing when closed showing the means of (automatically, sealing the mercury tube, operating the valve mechanism.

My invention contemplates the provision of a sphygmomanometer of the mercury column type capable of measuring blood pressures up to 300 millimeters7 the instruments having such a range of measurementheretofore have been constructed in large sizes and the use thereof has necessarily been restricted to oftices, but by providing fa novel mercury tube construction, l am enabled to arrange a compact and eliicient instrument Ato the inner face of a casing cover. 1l

hingedly connected to the casing l2 as shown at whereby the cover may be swung'to a vertical position, as shown in Fig.` 4l, while the casing proper remains horizontal and comprises a base for the instrument. The tube lO may be secured to the casing by any convenient means such as by a clasp 14. The legs 9 and 9 of the tube are provided at their upper end with valve mechanisms 16 and 17 respectively operated by a bifurcated lever member 1S which engages a rod 20 supported by a bracket 21 secured to the casing 12 as will be hereinafter described. Adjacent the leg 9 of the tube is a calibrated scale 22 and disposed at the top of the other leg is a bell member 25 comprising a reservoir into which the mercury may be forced from the leg 9 when pressure is exerted on the top of the mercury column in the leg 9. A detachable connection 26 is provided on the valve member 17 affording attachment for a tubular member 30 extending to the tourniquet bag A second tubularmembei' extends from the tourniquet bag to a pump 34 disposed within and secured to the casing member 12 in such manner that the operating member' 35 thereof may extend outside of the casing whereby the casing may be held and the pump operated by using but one hand; As shown in Fig. 2, the pump is vdisposed in the casingout of alignment with the mercury tube mechanism whereby space is provided for receiving the tourniquet vbag 32 `when the instrument is not m use.

the legends of the mercury vtube in sealed relationthereto and have a common valve member operated by member 18 and prosageways 43 formed in the members 16 17. The valve member 17 is provided' withv nected a coupling member 47 carried by the end of the tourniquet bagV tube 80, the coupling and branch of course having passageways Vformed therein communicating withv the passageway 43. ot thevalve whereby, when pressure is exerted in the bag a corresponding pressure is exerted upon the top of the mercury column, in the leg Q', ot the tube, thus causing the mercury to be depressed in the tube in the leg 9 ot the tube and to be forced upwardly in the leg 9 of the tube, through the passageway 43 ot the valve 16 into a reservoir 25. l

y As shown in Fig. 3, the reservoir is provided with a cap having an aperture 61` for permitting the .escape ol air from the reservoir. The cap serves as clamping means to hold a diaphragm 62 in position to cover lthe aperture 61. rlhe diaphragm 62 is formed of a material which will permit the escape of airifroin the reservoir 25 but which .is impervious to mercury. l find that a chamois skin is quite serviceable tor this purpose.

. 'It will beissen that this valve arrangement is such that when the casing member 11 is swung into closing relation with the base portion 12, that the member 18 will come into engagementwith the pin 2O and by reason of the curved or camming surfaces of the biturcated end 1iortion 18a. the valve member 40 will be Vrotated a su'liicient distance to cause the apertures 42 thereo't to be turned out ot alignment with the valve passageways 43 thus effectively sealing the ends ot the mercury tube. Likewise when the lid or cover portion of the casing is elevated, the action of the lever member is such that it turns the valve member to a position' which will align the passageways 42 and 48 of the 4respective valve members.

To insure an acurate operation of the valve members, in the foregoing described manner, I provide bracket members 64 lwhich are secured to the casing member 11 and to the valve members 16 and 17. `Thus the upper end of the mercury tube is lirmly held without undue pressure or stress beingexerted upon the glass portion oi the tube.

The bag 32 may comprise the usual tourniquet, namely an inner inliatable rubber bag and an router fabric cover 32, the bag and cover being et considerable length whereby l it may be wrapped about the limb of the patient two or three times. The pump 34 :tor intlating the bag may be rigidly secured to the casing member 12 by `bracket members and 71., This pump a branch 26 to which may be detachably conV may comprise a piston spring actuated on videdwith transverse passageways 42 adapt-f. the suction stroke and manually actuated ed to be brought into alignment with pason the compression stroke. y

The pump 34 is provided with the usual cylinder 74 and piston structure 7 5 operated by a plunger 7 6 which is of suicient length to extend through the end of the casing adjacent one side thereof. The handle 77 on the stem is of such shape that the casing member 12 may be-grasped with thetlngers .and the pump moved inwardly by pressure exerted :trom the ball oit the hand. y

rli`lie pump piston 75 and the operating stem 76ers maintained in a normally outward position by a spring member '.78 disposed within the cylinder 74, the stemvr76 being of suilicient length to extend throughV the end wall 12EL of the casing member 12 and a catch or detent 8O with wing slots 81- i's provided on the outer side o' the wall 12a of the casingto engage a pin 81 on the stem handle 77 whereby, when the instrument is not being used, .the stem 76 may be rotated about a quarter Vturn as ina breach lock maintained in an innermost position in opposition tothe spring .78. The discharge end of the pump is provided with a check valve and also a release .valve connection and, as shown in Fig. 4, the inner end 74a of the cylinder is provided with an aperturey 85 which is sealed by a check hall 86 held in a normally operative position by the inner slotted end 87wof a coupling member 88. The coupling 88 has the valve end ther-eciI in threaded engagement with a. suitably threadedaperture formed in the end 74a ofthe pump and servesr as a connection tor the tourniquet bag tube 83. The end 87 ot the coupling member 88 is provided with radialV slots 87a which permit the compressed air from the pump to flow through the passageway 89 oiE the coupling member 88 around the ball 86. Upon an outward stroke of the stem 76 ot the pump, the ball 86 becomes seated and seals the aperture 85. Uponan inward stroke however, the ballis vorced against the ends ot the member 88 and the air flows into the tube 33 of the tourniquet bag 32.. Y

To relievethe pressure in the bag 32 ina gradual manner... a release valve is arranged on the pump to be operated in such manner that the physician may have the use ottone hand to detect the re-occurrenceot pulsation while holding theinstrument and stroking the pump with the other. hand. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a release valve is provided which'may comprise a tubular member 90 providing a passageway 91'eXtending from thel coupling member 88 of the pumpforwardly to a position alongside of the pump at the operative end of the casing. the member extending upwardly to anaccessible position. The release valve proper com. prises an ordinary needle screw 92 controlyling the passageway of the member 90 and is disposed above the casing 12, thus permitting the physician to operate or relieve the pressure in the bag 32 while retaining his grip on the instrument.

I claim: i K l l. In a sphygmomanometer, the combination or a U-sha Jed tube, a rsingle valve member controlling oth legs of the tube, an openable casing containing the tube and valve, means whereby the closing ofthe casing operates the valve and a tourniquet bag connected with one of the legs through said valve. j

2. YIn a sphygmomanometer, the combination of a casing comprising two hingedly connected members, a mercury tube mounted on'y one member, a mercury reservoir mounted above one leg of the tube and in communication with it, said tube being U- shaped, the legs of the tube being of equal length, valves for closing the legs of the tube, and means for automatically closing and opening thevalves upon closing and Vopening the casing respectively. j

3. In a sphygmomanometer of the character described, the combination of a U- shaped mercury tube having legs of equal length, a valve mechanism for closing the legs of the tube and a single member for operating said valve mechanism simultaneously. c

4. In a sphygmomanometer of the character described, the combination of a U- shaped mercury tube having legs of equal length a valve mechanism for closing the legs of the tube, a single member for operating said valve mechanisms and a mercury reservoir on vone of the legs adjacent one of said valves.

5. In a sphygmomanometer the combination of a casing comprising two hingedly Vconnected members, a vmercury tube supported by one of the members, said tube be- Y 6. In a sphygmomanometer the combina- Y tion of a casing comprising two hingedly connected members, a mercury tube supported by one of the members, said tube-being U-shaped, valve members for closing the legs of the tube, a single member for operating said valve mechanism and means carried by the other member of the casing for operat- Ving said single member when the casing is being closed and opened, a pump disposed in the casing adjacent said means, the pump having an operating handle extending through the casing and a relief Valve controlling the back pressure on the pump and disposed within the casing but adjacent said handle. p 1

7. In a sphygmomanometer the combination or' a casing comprising two hingedly connected members, a mercury tube supported by one of the members, said tube being U-shaped, valve members for closing the legs of the tube, a singlemember for operating said valve mechanism said member being bifurcated and means carried by. the other member of the casing for operating said single member when the casing is being closed, said means including a member adapted to extend between the bifurcated Vportions of the valve operating member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature. Y

GEORGE AF. BEACHLER. 

